A place where
man and nature can coexist in perfect harmony, Hato Piñero,
a private wildlife refuge, is located in the southeast
of Cojedes State, in the middle of the Venezuelan Central
"Llanos" (also known as "grasslands"
or "plains"). Bordered by 3 rivers and a hill
range, Hato Piñero's 148,260 acres go from 328
to 1969 feet above sea level creating a variety of habitats
and types of vegetation, including wetlands, dry plateau
forests, pasture grounds, hills, gallery forest and streams,
known as "caños" in Spanish.
The
remarkable difference between the dry and rainy seasons
can be fully experienced in Hato Piñero. At the
beginning of the dry season, the water withdraws, and
the lowest areas, swamps, lagoons and "caños"
gradually dry up and Piñero dresses in pale yellows,
ochres and greens. This is the hardest time for the animals
which hardly manage to survive the drought. At the beginning
of May, the first showers perform wonders and turn Piñero
into paradise, and in a few days, everything is green
and shiny and the grasslands dress in vivid oranges, pinks,
golds and reds as the trees bloom. Many of the "caños"
and lagoons are negotiable now and the excursions are
an excellent opportunity to observe the fauna and vegetation
of the river banks. This is the time for bird nestling,
resulting in magnificent bird songs.
One
of Piñero's most beautiful features is the diversity
of its trees, including mango, rain trees, drumstick trees,
oaks, ceibas and Venezuela's national tree, the "Araguaney."
The list of mammals includes some species that have become
extinct or are scarce elsewhere: Jaguars, Pumas, Ocelots,
Wild Cats, Lesser or Greater Anteaters, Crab-eating Raccoons,
Giant Water Otters, Tapirs and Wild Boars. Even during
a short stay, the traveler will be able to observe White-tailed
Deer, Crab-eating Fox, Capybara (world;s largest rodent),
Rabbit, Fish-eating Bat, Tayra Fox, Red Howler and Capuchin
Monkeys. Between the reptiles, the visitor will find abundant
cayman, iguanas, several species of snake (including the
Anaconda), lizards, turtles and tortoise. As for birds,
Piñero is a true paradise for birdwatchers. More
than 350 species have been identified and most visitors
will find new species between the storks, herons, ibises,
hoatzins, curassows, fly-catchers and see-eaters. Known
to be very tame, Piñero's fauna is very easy to
observe and photograph, thanks to a zealous conservation
program and the restricted hunting.
Also
a working cattle ranch, Hato Piñero developed one
of the most prestigious cattle-breeding systems of Latin
America and one of Venezuela's most advanced artificial
insemination programs. Most of Piñero's workers
are local, skillfully men that have adapted for centuries
to the arduous tasks of the "Llanos". Their
music is perhaps the most authentic of all Venezuelan
music and their instruments are a part of Venezuela's
folklore. They are outstanding riders and have great knowledge
and love for nature.
Hato
Piñero is easily accessible from Caracas, a 5-hour
drive, or by private charter flight to its own landing
strip. The guesthouse is spectacular and only have 11
rooms with private bathroom and ceiling fan for a maximum
of 25 guests at the same time, thus ensuring tranquility,
comfort and personalized attention to every one.
Contact
us to include Hato Piñero
in a customized itinerary of travel to Venezuela.
